Celebrate your Circle.
It was Friday the 6th of August 2021, the Tokyo Olympics was coming to a close and so was one of the most endurance required events, the Men’s Decathlon. With the 1500m race the last event of the program, it was clear for the athletes what had to be done in order to obtain a spot on the podium. Two Australians were competing in this event, one was out of medal contention whilst the other was fighting for bronze.
It was known that Moloney’s weakest event in the Decathlon was the 1500m and he would need to run a Personal Best to obtain the Bronze Medal. Knowing this, his teammate and training partner Dubler would perform one of the most selfless acts in sport and display a great example of mateship. Rounding the final lap, Dubler was up in front in contention to earn some big points.
After working out what place Moloney needed to finish on the podium, Dubler dropped back in the pack to run alongside Moloney until the end of the race. His regard for his own success went out the window when he saw an opportunity to make a mate’s dream come true. Sure enough, through Dubler’s words of encouragement, Moloney ran a personal best time and took home the first ever medal for an Australian in the Men’s decathlon.
Whilst the achievement is a first and something no Aussie has done before, in my eyes, Dubler and his act of mateship will be an Olympic memory for years to come and a true example of what it means to celebrate your circle.
“Your friend’s success should motivate you not intimidate you”
We live in a world where in almost every situation of life we are compared to one another and compete to earn more, look better and climb the social ladder faster. Social media outlets drive the competitive nature amongst society with people posting with ease of their successes and just as quick, it highlights people’s blemishes. In the 21st Century, we are constructed to beat the person standing beside us. We are given incentives to be the best, to have a bigger house or a louder car, to become the first manager or represent our country. Along the way to finding these successes, we’re often quick to feel disappointment when someone close achieves it first or experiences a positive step towards their goal.
Growing up, you’ll have your friendship group which will more likely than not change multiple times before you graduate from university. “Lifelong friends”, as you labelled them after you won an under 14/s game of footy, can be all but a great memory when you graduate from High School and then a last thought when you move out of home. However, through these stages in life, you’ll find those special people, the ones that come watch your music concert when they don’t know what a treble clef is or call you every week and remember the small details of your life. These special people will listen to you vent about your struggles no matter how big or small, will give you genuine advice to improve your situation and check back in days later to see any improvement. To support and celebrate your circle means to ride through every up and down they experience. It is often said that those with true friendship and an authentic connection are more likely to appear in the worst of situations and be absent when things are easy.
It’s important that we search for these type of people in our lives and hold onto them. They’re a support network but also a source of accomplishment when you do achieve your end goal. They become a part of your motivation to succeed and also your desire to push through the hard times.
I am quite fortunate to be in a position where this is my everyday life. The people that I surround myself with are like minded and only want the best for each other. Although my circle was often chosen for me in regards to family, at some point you hit an age where you’re able to separate yourself however I’ve been lucky to not have to make that decision. Through high school, uni and now into adult lives, the group of friends that I keep have stuck there through thick and thin for the sole reason that we want each other to be the best possible versions of ourselves. I think when I noticed this the most was not when I was side by side with them at school or sitting next to them at family catch ups, it was when I moved interstate and overseas. It does show the true character and authenticity of a friendship when the convenience of the friendship disappears and effort must be made to ensure you stay connected and in each other’s lives.
What I see out of the Dubler and Moloney relationship is a sense of mutual respect, understanding and eagerness to achieve goals. They are training partners, seeing every sweat, blood and tear shed in order to make the Olympics and subseuqently, take home a Bronze Medal. For me, I see that in my circle. I see the sacrifices made, the long hours of study put in, the tiring exercise routines to get into shape and the constant trial and error to figure out their desired future, to name a few. Having seen the trials and tribulations they’ve experienced, it allows me to empathise with them, be the support they need when they may not know they need it and I know to never give up on them. My circle is one that I keep very close to me, that I am proud to have and a circle that through everything, will be standing by my side ready to take on the next challenge.
So I urge you, to look at your circle and ask yourself if they truly celebrate you. Look into those closest and ask yourself if you authentically support and celebrating their successes. When you can sit there and look at your circle with no shadow of a doubt the above is true, trust me, it’s a feeling unlike any other. Knowing that for the remainder of your life, you will have people in your corner, people standing at the finish line cheering but also people, with 400m to go in an Olympic final, screaming their lungs out to get you on the Podium.
“Friendship isn’t about who’s been in your life the longest. It’s about who walked into your life, said “I’m here for you” and proved it.”
